Innsbruck Cathedral

Innsbruck Cathedral stands in the heart of Innsbruck’s Old Town, its twin towers and large dome rising above the green copper roofs. Built between 1717 and 1724 on the site of a twelfth-century Romanesque church, it replaced earlier structures damaged by fire and earthquakes. The architect Johann Jakob Herkomer designed the church, though he died before its completion. His nephew finished the work, following the original plans with only minor changes. The cathedral’s Baroque interior features frescoes by Cosmas Damian Asam and stucco work by his brother Egid Quirin Asam. It became the seat of the Diocese of Innsbruck in 1964 after being raised to cathedral status. The cathedral holds two treasures of great importance. Above the main altar hangs *Maria Hilf*, a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder from around 1530. This image is among the most revered in Christendom. In the north aisle stands the canopied tomb of Archduke Maximilian III of Austria, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, dating from 1620. The cathedral suffered heavy damage in a 1944 air raid but was fully restored by 1950. Further repairs in the 1990s addressed remaining war damage, including the dedication of a new altar and crypt in 1993. Inside, the cathedral impresses with its heavy pillars and saucer domes decorated with frescoes. The dome above the choir draws the eye toward the high altar, where *Maria Hilf* is displayed. The walls are divided by marble pilasters, and the entablature above the windows creates a rhythmic pattern. The exterior façade, made of Hötting breccia and Hagau marble, faces west over Pfarrplatz. It features statues of Tyrolean saints and an equestrian statue of Saint James above the gable. The cruciform ground plan includes a twin-bayed nave, semicircular transept, and a straight-ended choir.